Dispenser for coffee and like material



Feb. 23, 1954 L. o. HUHN 2,670,105

DISPENSER FOR coFFEE AND LIKE MATERIAL Filed Deo. e, 1951 1 2sheets-sheet 1 Feb. 23, 195.4 l.. o. HUHN DISPENSER FOR COFFEE AND LIKEMATERIAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 6, 1951 A Trax/vir;

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 DISPENSER FOR COFFEE AND. LIKE MATERIAL LouisHuhn, Detroit, Mich.

Application December 6, 1951, Serial No. 260,190

3 Claims. (Cl. 222-251) 1 This invention relates to dispensing devicesemployed for dispensing granular or powdered materials and particularlyto an improved device for dispensing coffee and like materials.

A n important object of this invention is to provide an improved devicefor dispensing coffee and like materials which provides a free steadyflow of the coffee from a container and regardless of the level of thecoffee within the container. Another important object of the invenl'-tion is to provide an improved device of this character which includesnovel means for preventingy the hollowing out of the content of thecontainer as the content is gradually decreased during the use of thedevice and which cooperates in a novel manner with valving meansforcentrolling the amount of coffee or like material discharged from thecontainer. A further important object of the invention is to provide adevice of this character having improved discharge means at the lowerend of the container which is smoothly operable over long periods of useand which provides a freely flowingr stream of coffee or other contentmaterial from the container.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, the dispensing deviceincludes a vertically arranged container having a discharge opening inthe lower end thereof and optionally having an inlet opening in theupper endY of the container depending upon the form of container used.Secured to the lower end of the container-and'in surrounding relation tothe discharge opening thereof is a hollow body which isinteriorlylarranged in a novel manner for the flow of con? tent materialtherethrough and which terminates in a tapering discharge spout.MountedV Within the hollow body is a valve assembly which is constructedin a novel manner for providing a steady freely flowing stream ofmaterial when the valve is turned to open position. Mounted within thecontainer, and preferablysuspended from itsupper end, is novel means forpreventing the caving in or hollowing out of content material as .the

latter is progressively `dispensed. from the con appended claims andaccompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a dispensing deviceembodying the features of this invention and showing the constructionand relation of the interior parts thereof,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged exploded view in perspective showing Athe mannerof detachably suspending the member for preventing the hollowing out ofthe content material in the container,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the underside of thevalve member,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional View taken along line 54 of Fig. l and showing the manner of mounting the device on a verticalsupport or wall,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along line 5-5 ofFig. l and showing two positions of the valve in full and dotted lines,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line6--6 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 'l-l of Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along line 8-8 ofFig. 1 and showing the bracket mounting for the device,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a supporting collar for the containerpartly broken away in section, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a deflector member in the valveassembly.

Theillustrated embodiment of the invention comprises, in general, acasing or container I0 for storing coffee and like material, a valvingdevice l2 on the lower end of the container from which controlledamounts of coffee or other content material are dispensed, and a bracketI4 for supporting the container from a wall or an upright standard I6 asshown herein. The container I0 may be lof any suitable type for thepurpose and formed of metal or glass. lt is herein shown as formed of arelatively large glass jar and yprovided with a funnel shaped lowerportion I8 terminating in an externally threaded neck 20 forming adownwardly Vopening discharge outlet for the container. The upper end ofthe container I6 is likewise provided with an externally threaded neck22 forming 'an inlet opening for the container. A'cap 2d having threadsis removably screwed to the upper neck 22 to close the saine. Althoughintended primarily for dispensing coffee, similar types of material,such as sugar, may be stored inI the container.y y y HAn importantfeature of "the inventionis the provision of means within the containerl for preventing the hollowing out of the content material as the levelthereof in the container progressively lowers during the use of thedevice. In the past, when coiee and like material was dispensed fromcontainers having centrally located discharge outlets, the mass of thecoffee in the center of the container flowed out first producing a cavedin or 1hollow formation in the content material lwhich impeded the freeiiow of the material and left a residue of the material along the sidewalls of the container. The means herein described for preventing suchholloyving out `action comprises an elongated member genera11y. indicated at 2B and preferably having a length as shown in Fig. 1approximating the .axial dimension of the container l0. The member 26 isherein shown as having two reversely related conical sections 28 and 30and convergingly tapers from a maximum cross sectional area atapproximately itsmidpointto aminirnum cross section at each of itsopposite ends. The memberZG maybeformed lout Vof V.one piece butisherein. illus- .-tratedas composed ,of Itwo separate hollow conical`elcxldlllts,joined at their bases by the telescoping lnterfittingAengagement shown in Fig. l. The

apex ends. of v.cachelement may be left opened.

Lper-mit 4the memberto 13e-removed for cleaning.

Fitting the rim or lip of the neck ,229i the con- ...lainer A.a 32 4ofthin metallic material. .Projecting .first inwardly .and then.downwardly from diametricalflyopposite sides ,of the ring 32 are .two.similar slotted lelerrlents or .tongues 3.473.4- y'I heslot GBofeaolttoneue extendssubstantially the full length thereof and ithrough.the `right angle bendpasvbest shownuinliig. 2. Bridging the distancebetweenthe tongues a .vertically.disposedplete-likemember .38. shaped'with two similar downwardly.opening-slots 3.8-.38 ...which lextendclose to the opposite sidel margins ,of the ,member and formhookelements. t-46.

` ln assembling the Yplate member 1elonto the rinelits droppedvertically through .theorem- -ing in .the rms withits hoorelementstz-rzv terengagirig with the slots36 voi thetongues in Ythe manner shown inFig 1. Y 4`Pivotally connected to the center ofthemidsection of theplatememberv is a dependinggarm .,lllformed of `latstrip material andwhich as shown inFigs. 1 and :2 enters theapex endJof the vnpper conicalVsection .2.8 of the .Cone member. .The erm isflered outwardlyfromitsupoer. `oen- .,nected .end to its lower end and ,providedwith`.diverging side edges conforming substantially to ,the-,conicalformation of the conicalvsection, which .itenters as shown in Figi Thearm 44 iscon- .nested to theplate member 38 `by aiastener in The conemember assembly is passed through the inlet opening formed by the neck22 and suspended in the container by the bearing engagement of the ring32 on the rim of the neck. The assembly is locked in position bythreading the cap 24 to the neck. In this manner the core member 2E issuspended centrally within the container HJ and with its lower endprojecting downwardly into rthe discharge outlet 4,and into the valvingreceptable l2-secured to the-bottom side thereof.

For metallic containers, the cone member 26 may b e .suspended by amounting generally like `.that shown in Fig. 2 with the ring 32 orequivalent member riveted, soldered or otherwise secured' to the underside of the top of the container.

`Another important feature of the invention is the construction andoperation of the valving .mechanism at the discharge end of thecontainer.

The valve is housed; within the hollow body or .receptacle-l2receiving-et. its upper-end the-meek 10 .of .theleontainer l0 .endproyided at itsloyver Aend with@ tapering .funnel vor disehereefsmut 48-.Mounted Within-.the uppereud of nhebody l2 is a ring shaped member 50Apreferably constructedin the manner shown inFig 9. `Member 50 hugs theinner. surface of: the ueelssard provided with a .downwardlyiuwardlyinelined Circuler Welll Whieh .engi-roles the lower .or apex endof tbeeoneseotiou- Below-.the

.shaped aperture .BL .The valve .member v16.2 is

rotatably y.rnou-rrtfd .in .the hollow V.body and is provided with e.lateral. proieetingbendle ..66 .for

this purpose. The valve member is rotatably .supported .uponacireulertshoulderf.formed interiorly :o the .bodrll iutliemannershowndnvided with, .anarouete slot .1.0. .extending partially therearound asj.showin infie- 6 .and :through Whichthe handledzproieetstoitlie:outside of. the

body.

suspende.d` under :the telve member 62 .and .securedthereto:fornioint-rotation .are yaneelike elements yiorfliectingdownwardly. into f the .snout ..48. .as .shown -in- Eig.. 1.,Quel-velue.:element. .is `indicated. et. 12- ande.zttendsv,.su...sentiellyparallelle the straight `edge-.ofvthe.etrlerture end in. slight spaced` relation-.theretofas shown inFia-3. ."Ihe

vane.- 12 may be.: formedof sheet. metalstoek..and

provided .at its upper-.end withe. lateral. dimensionapproximatelyedualto.l or Sliehtlylessthan thestraightedgevof.theaperturetl The upper vend ofthe vane. 12 is-Vprovided .withan intuifned dance 1.4 whiehseryes asameens .for securing r.the venetothe ,underside-.of the .valve member.

For. thispurposeta4 pair or screws .16K- are provided .which .securevthe vilarlge to. the .valve. member; in

the manner ,shownin Figs; 3 ,andp- The Vene l2 ...is .provided I. Wtlladditional subsidiary vane 18 preierablyftormedf out..of-: the

flange 14 Vand depending ,downwardly from the valve member; ingcloserproximity-...to thesstraight edge gf ,the;.a pertl.1r.ee64f than, themain. vanaeleingenti?. ...Alorossivaner .issecuredto ,the-.apery thefree flow of the material out of the spout.

"ture sideof the vane inasubstantially'-perpen- -adicular relation tothe vane element `'12. vThe i two. vane'elements 'I2 and L80 havesubstantially content material such as coiee during ther opera-f.

tion of the device. These vane elements rotate jointly with the valvemember and cooperate to direct the ow of content material straight ldownthe aperture 'Miand out of the spout 48.

The larger vane 'I2 also serves to provide an air pocket in the spout 48on the side thereof opposite to the aperture .64 and in thismannerprevents ra building up of the content material in the spout 48and the resulting impairment of It is evident from the description ofthe valve mechanism thus far described that when `the valve member 62 isrotated to bring its aperture 64 in under the inclined portion 56 of thedeilector that the flow of material from the container to the spout willbe cut off and that as the valve member is rotated from this closedposition approximately 180 degrees such as to the position shown indotted outline in Fig. the aperture 64 will be brought in alignment withthe aperture 5'! of the deector thereby permitting content material toflow downwardly through the discharge outlet of the container, throughthe valve body I2 and out of the spout 48. Thevalve member 62 may beswung to any position short of fully opened position to vary the volumeof the content material flowing out of the device.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision made formounting the valve member 62 andits associated parts for rotation in thebody I2. This means comprises two sets of pairs of washer memberscomposed of paper rather than metal as has been the practice heretofore.One set of washers, such as that indicated at 82 .and 84 is positionedimmediately above the valve member 62 as shown in Fig. 7. The other setindicated by the reference characters 86 and 88 are located immediatelybelow the valve member 62. The washer 82 in the upper set serves as abearing support for the ring 54 of the deflector 52. The washer 88 ofthe lower set more remote from the valve member 62 bears upon thecircular shoulder 68 of the body I2. All four washers, 82, 84, 86 and88, are cut out from flat paper stock, such as cardboard, and formedinto rings whose outer diameters Iare substantially equal to the innerdiameter of the body I2 and the exterior diameter of the valve member62. Preferably, one side of each cardboard washer is coated with paranor a substance having the functional characteristics of paraflin. Theopposite side of each washer should be left uncoated but smooth andfiat. The paran-in coated sides of the washers bear against the metalparts and tend to adhere thereto but the opposite uncoated sides contactthe next adjacent washer and freely slide over one another. It has beenfound that such paraffin coated paper washers are highly satisfactoryfor the purpose and enable the valve member 62 to be turned with aminimum amount of resistance. Moreover, being formed of paper, they areunder slight compression preventing the introduction of any of theparticles of the content material therebetween and between any of theparts of the valve mechanism against which they bear.

vIn-.the-.caser of metallic bearing' surfaces 'heretofore employed, any.irregularity or deformityin the washers permitted'the small grains;vdust or particles of the content'material to enter between V.thewashersgor the ladjacent surfaces of the.v parts of thevalvingmechanismV causing: the washers yto resist turningmovement ofthejvalve member. :Being formed ofpaper, the washers of the vpresentinvention are capable of being economically manufactured and replaced atlow cost. yTests have proven that paper washersfor this purpose willprovide. many thousandsV of turning movements, ofv the valve member withvery llittle wear .f and #therefore arel highly satisfactory for thepurpose intended.` y. i

.The bracket I4 is capable of supporting the container IUand theassociated parts of the device in vertically spacedrelation toa baseupon which av measuringcup or glass is placed.- In Fig. 1 the bracket isshown -as connected to an upright member 90 of an.-Lshaped standardhaving a base leg portion^92 upon which a meas- .uringglass 94 may besupported. However, the

bracket I4 maybe secured directly to a wall :alongside of which -atable-is provided y.for fthe measuring receptacle. The bracket I4comprisesv a lateral extension 96 terminating inanannularlyshaped'section 98, the inner diameter of which is; greaterthan the neck 20A of the container. The upper end of the body I2 isprovided with a circular, laterally extending ange- |00 which as shownin Fig. l bears upon the upper surface of theannular section 98. Theglass type of` containers such as illustrated in Fig. 1 bears upon theupper -surface of the annular section 98.

.type of containers such as illustrated inxFig. l,

For glass there is preferably provided a collarv |02 which is internallythreaded for receiving the threads of the neck 20. The collar .|02 is sodimensionally proportioned as to be received between the upper end-ofthe body I2 (and the neck 20. The collar is provided with a radialflange .|04 extending completely therearound as shown in Fig.

4 and which bears upon the flange |00 of the body.r The two flanges |00andv |04:are secured tov the annular section 98 of the bracketv by meansof vscrews I 05 circularly spaced therearound in the manner shown inFig. 4.

^ The outer end of thel bracket may be of any suitable formation forsecurement tothe standaard 'I6 or awall which ever is elected forsupport. For this purpose the bracket |4 includes a generally V-shapedstationary guide |06 which is fastened to the standard I6 or othersupport. The diverging sides of the guide |06 are provided with undercutgrooves for receiving a vertical depending plate section |08 of thebracket. 'I'he latter may form an integral part of the extension 96 andbe bent at right angles thereto as shown in Fig. 1. The side edges ofthe vertical section or plate |08 converge toward one another in thedownward direction and at an inclination similar to that of the groovesin the side members of the guide |06. In this manner, the bracket I4 maybe dropped into the guide and wedged in the latter. An auxiliaryinclined bracing member ||0 may be provided for reinforcing the bracketI4 and bridge the corner formed by the two right angularly extendingsections 96 and |08 of the bracket assembly.

What I claim is:

1. In a dispensing device for coffee and like material, a verticallyarranged container open at its lower end for the discharge of contentmaterial-r-thereirom', ea. mellow tbody ssecnrdfxfto the lowersend tof:the-container fingern-rounding relation fito-tthe xiischargerfopeningthereon-"luierder to vreceive :the :montent 'rmaterial ftherefrom,

`.said lzbody rhaving: itsdower endfzportionftenmiz-nating in; a..diseharge-rspout,.fannolinedmem- P:ber mounted 1 in the bodyintermediatefthe 'opposite :ends thereof and 'arranged `@to :direct i;the :content material"entering fthe bo'dy towardfone -side thereof, a-valve :mountedvin ftheihodytim- -inediatelyv below fthe l inclinedmember tand 'fro- 'ftatableV-about thewfertcalfv axis 'ofi the" body.from

1a position: permittingl theflowe of :contenti material through f thehollow body sv andf :out .through the discharge spout toanother:.positionfcuttng oil ZtheflowA of content material'ftfhroug'hthefbody, a ring ymemloer lconcentricallylpositioned in -the discharge'opening :of the icontainer f and having a downwardlyvconverging-.circular :wall

`terminating immediately above the inclined` 'memben and meansfors-preventingfithe lhollowingout of the ycontent"-materialwithin thecontainer-as it is progressively dispensedhtherefrom comprising anelongated double cone :fmexriloer :within the container and :shaped-in:thezorm of two cones secured togetherratstheirilargeends with theirsmall ends-disposed adjacent opposite ends yof the container; and meanssuspending the double cone shape'dzmemberewithm the container fromoneapexfend sothat-the other.

interior of the 'hollow body afor controlling: the

.: nowgof content 'material'therethrou ghzandout Lof the spout andA.comprising Aa lhorizontally disposed discgrotatahlefa'bout theverticalaxismathe hollow rnernbenandra `,vane f suspendedifromf thelnndersideofthe-valve disc andprojectingsdownwardly into,` thesspout, i,said vane textending sub- -sstantially diametrically across ,ther-valvediscrand mlivdmgtitheudisc cnto two. substantially asem- :circular`portions; one of `=said semioirculairfpor- 4tions being imperforate:and :the .other having/ an aperturev therethrough; v:andmeanscooperating ,Y 'fwiththe .valvezdiscand operablevupon'rotativzinffof :the dise .toJ-controlthe owcof v:material from:the container .toi' the dischargefspout, said vaneabeingjointly"rotatable\.'withfthe valve 'disc and 'functiorngaszfa guide inthe spout to pass therma- :teria1: directlyitherethrough.

`f3. In aidispensing device "forfcoifee andflike Lmaterial including.-avertically arranged #conatainer havinga 'discharge open-ingintheloWerend-thereof through Vl`which the :contenti materialoffthercontainerf'owsout,V a.' hollow bodysecured '.to thelower end.off-thecontai-ner insurrounding relation tol the 'discharge opening'thereof for' -rei fceiving'rthe' content 'material-from the container,-saidholloW-'body terminating at its lower endin a dischargespout,-valve means infthe interior Aof lthe hollow ioodyfor controlling theofw'of; content:material therethrough and out of the spout andycomprising avhorizontally disposed 'disc '-ro- 'tatable about thevertical axis fof the hollow imem-benandfmeanscarried `on* the undersideof 'the valvel'dise and vprojecting into the spoutfor guiding fthematerial in a f freely f flowing stream through the spout, said meanscomprising la -Valve structure: of 1T-shap`ed cross wsection fixed tothe 'underside `offfthevalve4 disc =and= projecting downwardly'into the@spout 4injin'rtaposition Ato lthe interior vwall surfaces thereof,Isaid valve @disc :provided with a vertical passage therethrough havingan-area slightly less' than halfofthe disc and locatedinthatfsegmentalportionof the disc .onf one side ofthe crossj ofthe Tandtraversed .by the leg Iof the T.

LOUIS `O. HUHN.

References,Cited in the le of'this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 11,026,507 '.Hayset. al.. .May 14, 1912 2,243,335' vElliott`ll/Iay 27, .1.941 2,5,84381 .Beatty Feb. l5,1952

:FOREIGN PATENTS Number 'Country 'Date 2,0599A -GreatBritain Jan; 27,1911 'f2-582977` Italy `June11, 1928

